Perfect Shine or Patina

[hot ford coupe]

I always liked a little age in the build. I build them as if they were well taken care of but still used.

[Andym]

I like the aged look too Jeff. I'm just a little concerned that it won't show well. The Ferrari 126 C2 that I just finished looks like it just came off the track and got a quick clean-up and it doesn't seem to do well at the shows. It gets judged well, but usually loses to a very clean, very shiny "show room" build.

I build what I like, but I like to them to be strong competitors also. And I'm kinda hoping that Enzo's Revenge will be my signature piece.

That being said, I'm inclined to leave some patina. Besides, there'll be plenty of chrome when she's done anyway. (And it's not like the judges are helping me pay for this thing.)

[Gluhead]

The Revenge is a '29 Ford with the vintage Ferrari mill right?

Well that right there sends a huge middle finger to the Pebble Beach crowd. How blasphemous of you. :D :D :D

Sounds like something built to have the wheels driven off it. Well built and cared for, but [I]driven[/I].

[I][B]A lot[/B][/I].

No Ferrari engine should look nasty, but cherry perfect would look a little silly I think. But ultimately it depends on the level of care displayed in the rest of the build.

I want to know more about the project...got my interest peaked.

Glu

[Gluhead]

Oh sure...post more while I'm typin'...lol

I see where yer comin' from, but screw how they're judged. Does it need to have a trophy next to it to be your best effort yet?

Build it with vision...but [I]your[/I] vision.

Glu

[Don Garrett]

Pantina would be my choice also. As far as the judging thing and contests go.......I've seen far too many excellent builds passed over because someone else had more shine or a millon dollar paint job. Personally it means more to me to win a "peoples choice" award than a trophy for the amount of billet or money spent on a build. I don't think I've ever seen a primered car win the Oakland Roadster Show, but I have seen some fabulous builds that the owners had no desire to put a trailer queen paint job on. I have to agree with the guys, if it pleases you.......it works for me. (just my opinion);)

[Herman]

I don't like the showroom shine either. An aluminium part is very likely to wear down to that indescribable luster which I like. Age is part of the history of a car, and that may be visible. What is a stainless exhaust without the blue color shine over it?

As Bart Rosman said after asking about the corroded patch on his Bugatti T35:
I drove a complete lap with the engine on fire. The resulting corrosion is something that I do not plan to repair. It is part of the history of the car.

See the corroded hood. Corrosion is at the louvres at the rear.

Found even another picture:

The car on fire at Monaco

[Andym]

Yea - I'm leaving it as it is. I like the look. It's clean, but it's not "new".

Glu - Enzo's Revenge is going to be a scratch-built 1929 "ish" Ford Roadster Pickup with a VERY customized 1954 Ferrari Arno XI v12 engine. The engine features three in-line Webber 4-barrel carbs and a "snake pit" stainless exhaust that I'm desigining.

The body will be primarily gloss black with red accents. The interior will be Ferrari red leather with black piping .

I still haven't finalized the wheels yet. They'll either be polished aluminum mags or black anodized mags with polished aluminum accents.

The entire project was inspired by Jimmy Shine's pickup, Ross Gladers 1929 and a few other "rat rods" that I saw at the Good Guys show in Columbus last summer.

[hot ford coupe]

I just thought of something. To my mind, the best indication of the quality of a model and the skill of the builder is not a trophy but a well done photographed model where you can't tell if it's real or a model. When you can imitate the natural without detection, that's the best prize. That really shows the quality of attention to details.

[Andym]

Very good point Jeff.